Early Voting at 53 Suburban Cook sites starts March 5

Early Voting at 53 Suburban Cook County sites to open as scheduled March 5 while other in-person options will begin by February 21, Cook County Clerk’s office officials said Monday.

For the March 20, 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election, traditional Early Voting will take place March 5-19 at our 53 Early Voting sites as scheduled. Details on Early Voting locations and hours can be found on my website, cookcountyclerk.com/EV-locations.

Advanced Voting and other in-person options will be available by February 21 - by which time most challenges seeking to remove candidates from the ballot should have been resolved. At that time, voters needing to use the Grace Period to register and vote, or voters simply wishing to cast their ballot far in advance of the election can visit the Cook County Clerk's downtown office or satellite locations at the Cook County Courthouses.

Anyone who appears at our downtown location to vote before ballots are ready will be given an application for a mail ballot.

The in-person voting period in Illinois can begin at election officials’ offices as early as February 8, but ballots will not be available here or in many areas due to the ongoing disputes in the courts and before electoral boards.

Also, as Election Day nears, below are key dates to remember:

February 20 – Last day to register to vote by paper application
February 21 – First day of Grace Period registration and voting
March 4 – Last day to register to vote by online application
March 5 – First day of Early Voting
March 15 – Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters
March 19 – Last day of Early Voting
March 20 – Last day mail ballots can be postmarked